Comparison of a novel digital microscope using integrated intraoperative optical coherence tomography with the Ngenuity 3D visualization system in phacoemulsification cataract surgery

Objective: To compare surgical efficiency, visual and physical comfort, and safety profile of the ARTEVO 800 Digital Microscope (Carl Zeiss Meditec AG, Jena, Germany) and the Ngenuity 3D Visualization System (Alcon Laboratories Inc, Fort Worth, Tex.) in cataract surgery. Design: Cross-sectional study. Participants: One hundred consecutive phacoemulsification cataract surgeries performed by five surgeons from June 1, 2020, to November 1, 2020. Methods: For each case, the surgeons answered a 2-section questionnaire (before and after intervention) to collect data on cataract severity or grade, surgical risk, chosen three-dimensional (3D) visualization system, surgical complications, and the visual or physical discomfort experienced during the procedure. Results: Each of the 5 surgeons performed 20 surgeries (N = 100) using either the ARTEVO 800 Digital Microscope (N = 50) or the Ngenuity Visualization System (N = 50). Mean duration of the surgical procedure was 17.07 ± 4.80 minutes, and none of the surgeons ever switched to the classical microscope. In addition, 40% of surgeries were considered at low risk, 30% at intermediate risk, and 30% at high risk. The Zoom, Focus, and XY commands were used 1-3 times, respectively, during 76 (p = 0.34), 73 (p = 0.49), and 76 (p = 0.64) interventions. Surgical uncertainty and operative fluency were similar using both systems (p = 0.53 and p = 0.19). We observed 14 intraoperative complications, 9 using Ngenuity and 5 using the ARTEVO 800. Surgeon's visual comfort (p = 0.79), colour or brightness perception (p = 0.82), and visual impairment (p = 0.62) during surgery were similar for both systems. Headache, backache, and other musculoskeletal problems were reported, respectively, after 14 (p = 0.79), 11 (p = 0.99), and 8 (p = 0.44) procedures. Conclusion: Both the Ngenuity 3D Visualization System (Alcon Laboratories Inc) and the ARTEVO 800 Digital Microscope (Carl Zeiss Meditec AG) provided comparable operative speed and overall surgical comfort during cataract surgery.